INSTALLATION GUIDE
INSTRUCTIONS
To help with installation, our hot tubs come with comprehensive assembly videos and a manual- and of course we’re always here to answer questions. If you don’t have time, tools or feel handy enough to install yourself, any local contractor will be able to help you (or we may be able to recommend someone in your area).
THE BASE
Several tonnes (depending on size). For outdoor installation a concrete pad is best, but you can use patio stones or decking as long as they’re strong enough to support the weight and won’t shift. For indoor installations, a concrete basement floor is ideal.
SPACING
Many of our hot tubs don’t actually require much space, making them ideal for urban backyards, small decks and basements. If you have an area of 7 ft by 7 ft, you probably have enough room for a hot tub.
ELECTRICAL REQUIREMENTS
You will need 220V with 40A GFCI. Only the Tub for 2 is available with a 120V, plug-and-play spa pack for indoor use.
Playlist
1. Floor – two sections that include six screws to join them together
2. Wall staves – two or three bundles (depending on the type of hot tub you
purchased) of wooden tongue and groove staves that include three smaller
staves for finishing. Machined staves for Jets, Suctions, Light, and Bubbler
will be labelled.
3. Three or four stainless steel bands with lugs and nuts to hold your hot
tub together.
4. A box containing a vinyl liner.
5. Seat supports and hardware, including wooden seat supports, lag bolts
and washers, red silicone gaskets, and round-headed locator screws.
If you have a 5-foot-deep tub, you will also have supports and hardware
for the footrests.
6. A set of seats with 2 ½ inch screws to attach the seats to the supports.
7. Foil reflecting insulation to fit between the liner and the cedar staves
and floor, and rolls of insulation to wrap the pipes once the installation
is complete. Tape is also provided.
8. A roll of coping.
9. One or two Suction fittings (depending on your hot tub model) and
optional elbows that may be useful during setup.
10. One Light fitting and nut.
11. Jets (4, 6, or 10 Jets depending on your hot tub model) and one or
two 1 ½ inch x 1 ½ inch x 1 ½ inch Tee fittings for the water line.
12. One or two 1 ½ inch x 1 ½ inch x 1 inch Tees and an air intake valve for
each air line.
13. A certified and tested Spa Pack which includes your pump, controller,
heater, keypad, and filter. If you have two Suctions and/or 10 Jets, you
will have additional Tee fittings. If you have a 10 Jet hot tub, you will
also have a 1 ½ inch valve needed during set up.
9
Hot Tub Kit Contents
CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE UNBOXING VIDEO
CANADIAN HOT TUBS INC.
14. A starter chemical pack.
15. A wooden tool to tighten and loosen the brown Jet thru-walls on
the inside of the hot tub. Please keep this tool for future use.
16. Silicone and PVC cement
17. A roll of flex hose for plumbing
18. A roll-up cover
Optional components:
1. A floating thermal blanket
2. If you ordered the Bubbler, you will have pipes, fittings, and a motor.
3. If you ordered the Ionizer, it has been partially assembled for you.
Required Tools
1. A white rubber mallet used for setting the staves to the floor
2. Adjustable wrench (or ratchet set)
3. 3/8″ electric drill
4. Screwdrivers
5. Carpenters square
6. Saw or flex pipe cutters
7. Pump pliers or pipe wrench
8. 3/16″ bit for drilling holes into the Bubbler pipe
(if you purchased the Bubbler)
9. Sharp blade
10. Level
Important Information – KEEP WOOD DRY
The wood used for your hot tub is precision-machined so that it will fit
snugly together when dry. If the wood gets wet before it’s assembled,
it will swell and the staves will not fit onto the floor easily.
The foundation or base for your hot tub is very important. When filled,
your hot tub will weigh several tons. Assemble the hot tub in the area
it will be used on a 4 to 6-inch-thick concrete pad as the base. Other
bases may be used as long as they are designed to support the weight
of the filled hot tub.
While assembling the hot tub, leave enough room to move around
it easily.
Seat Supports
It is critical that seat supports are positioned correctly. Locations for seat
supports have been marked on the floor for 7-foot-diameter hot tubs.
1. Place the long seat boards into the hot tub and measure between them so
that they are an equal distance apart.
2. From the front corner of the seat, draw a line up 17 ½ inches from the floor
and make a mark.
3. From the back corner of the seat, draw a line up 17 ½ inches from the floor
and make a mark.
Note: This is the recommended seat height for a 4-foot-high tub. If you have a
Bubbler, you must place the seats at this height. If not, you can adjust the seat
height to your preference.
STEP 4 – Marking Seat
and Footrest Supports
CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE SEAT
SUPPORTS, LINER, AND SUCTIONS VIDEO
Important Information
• At least 60 minutes before installing the seat supports, put a
generous amount of silicone on one side of the red silicone washers
and attach them to the back of the seat supports. This will allow
the silicone to form a good seal.
• Do not pre-drill the holes of the seat supports. Use a screwdriver
to turn the “locator” screw directly into the wood of the hot tub.
Ensure that the lag bolts will go into the stave and not into a joint
between staves.
CANADIAN HOT TUBS INC.
18
4. Place the front of the seat support in line with the vertical line you drew up
from the floor, and line up the top of the seat support horizontally so that it
is level with the two marks.
5. Holding the seat support in position, place a pencil through the centre hole
of the seat support and mark the stave. This is where the “locator” screw
will be inserted.
Note: The seat support will go into this location after the liner is installed.
6. Screw in the 1 inch, round-headed screws (provided in kit) halfway into
the mark on the stave. This is the locator screw that marks where the seat
support will be installed after the liner is in the hot tub.
7. Repeat these instructions for the remaining seat supports.
Download the PDF and go to Page 18
Important Information
• At least 60 minutes before installing the seat supports, put a
generous amount of silicone on one side of the red silicone washers
and attach them to the back of the seat supports. This will allow
the silicone to form a good seal.
• Do not pre-drill the holes of the seat supports. Use a screwdriver
to turn the “locator” screw directly into the wood of the hot tub.
Ensure that the lag bolts will go into the stave and not into a joint
between staves.
Footrest Support Installation
Skip this step if your tub does not have footrests. If you do, footrest supports
are installed in a similar manner to the seat supports. Please follow the Seat
Support instructions, below.
Bubbler Fitting Installation (Skip this step if you did not purchase a Bubbler.)
1. Add water to just below the hole for the Bubbler.
2. Cut a 1 ½ inch “X” into the liner where the Bubbler hole is located.
3. Put a generous amount of silicone on the ribbed side of the Bubbler fitting
gasket and push it through the hole.
4. As you did with the Suction, have someone on the outside of the hot tub
thread the nut and tighten it with a wrench.
STEP 7 – Seats, Bubbler,
and Light Installation
CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE SEATS,
BUBBLER, AND LIGHT VIDEO
Important Information
• The top of the seat supports have the word “Front” written on
them. “Front” should be facing up when you install the seat
support locations are marked on the floor.
• If you have a 7-foot-diameter model, the seat support locations
are marked on the floor.
• Everything that will be installed in the hot tub should be installed
from the bottom up, starting with the footrests.
CANADIAN HOT TUBS INC.
24
5. Using the 1 ½ inch flex hose and the pipes provided, create a loop that
extends 12 inches above the top of the water line. This will prevent the water
from backing up into the blower motor.
CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE
BUBBLER AND ANTI-SIPHON VIDEO
Note: The blower motor should be mounted at least two feet above the ground and
five feet away from the hot tub to prevent it from getting wet due to splash-overs. If
mounted less than 5 feet from the hot tub, the blower motor must be protected from
getting splashed with a water shield or another type of enclosure. The blower motor
is connected to the controller unit and controlled from the keypad. Please see the
Spa Pack Configuration Diagram for details.
6. Assemble the Bubbler pipe and set it aside. The joints on the Bubbler do not
need to be glued. After the seats are installed, you will install the Bubbler.
Seat Support Installation
1. Raise the water level up so that it is 2 to 3 inches below the level of the
locator screws of the seat supports.
2. With a sharp blade, cut a small incision in the liner to expose the head of the
locator screw. Remove the locator screw.
3. Put a generous amount of silicone on the backs of the red seat support
gaskets. This will go against the liner.
4. Put a stainless steel washer on a lag screw and put it through the centre hole
of the seat support. Turn the lag screw through the hole you made for the
locator screw. Do not predrill.
5. Tighten the lag screw just enough to hold the support in place. Use a level to
ensure that the support is straight.
6. Install the other two lag screws. Make sure that all three lag bolts are tight.
This will secure the seat support to the wall and seal the holes.
7. Repeat these instructions to install the remaining seat supports.
USER MANUAL
25
Seat and Optional Bubbler Installation
Note: For the Okanagan, 7-foot-round model, see the diagram in the Appendix.
1. Position the front main seats. Measure between them to ensure that they are
evenly spaced apart.
2. Position the rear main seats (they are curved to the shape of the hot tub wall).
3. Fasten the seats into the supports using the 2 ½ inch stainless steel screws.
4. If you have a Bubbler, insert the end into the Bubbler wall fitting. Do not glue
the pipe to the fitting.
5. Secure the Bubbler under the seat boards by using the hangers and screws
provided.
6. Position the side seats. These seats are supported by the stainless steel
brackets that are attached to the front seats. You may need to trim the
length of the side seats so that they fit.
7. Mark the location of the holes in the stainless steel brackets on the middle seats,
then drill and countersink the holes. Fasten the middle seats into place using the
stainless steel bolts, making sure to use the nut and lock washer for each bolt.
8. Once the middle seats are installed, finish securing the Bubbler under them by
using the hangers and screws that are provided.
9. Place your drill between the seats and drill 3/16 inch holes into the top of the
Bubbler pipe. The holes should be equally spaced, about 1 to 2 inches apart.
This will ensure that the bubbles come up through the seat. Only drill these
holes on the top side of the pipe once it is installed under seats. If the Bubbler
is too forceful, drill additional holes.
Light Installation
1. Bring the water up to just below the Light fitting hole and cut a small “X” in the
liner.
2. Add silicone to the ribbed side of the gasket.
3. Insert the Light fitting and secure it on the outside with the nut.
Note: The LED Light mounts inside the Light fitting (do not glue it). The Light is
connected to the controller unit and is controlled from the keypad.
Important Information
• The top of the seat supports have the word “Front” written on
them. “Front” should be facing up when you install the seat
support locations are marked on the floor.
• If you have a 7-foot-diameter model, the seat support locations
are marked on the floor.
• Everything that will be installed in the hot tub should be installed
from the bottom up, starting with the footrests.
Jet Installation
1. Bring the water up to within 1 to 2 inches of the Jet holes.
2. At the Jet hole, cut an “X” in the liner that is large enough to put the
threaded portion of the thru-wall into the wall of the tub.
STEP 8 – Jet and
Plumbing Installation
CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE JETS AND PLUMBING VIDEO
Important Information
• Each brown Jet thru-wall comes with two silicone washers:
– One washer goes on the inside of the hot tub,
with the ribbed surface against the liner.
– The other goes on the outside of the hot tub, with the
white Jet body, and the ribbed side faces the hot tub.
• Every hot tub is supplied with two (or four) end Jets: one for the
right and one for the left ends of the plumbing. These Jets have
plugs on one side.
• The centre Jets have no plugs in the holes.
• The white Jet body holds the Air and Water lines on the outside
of the hot tub. The Air line must be in the top position.
USER MANUAL
27
3. There should be two white silicone gaskets on the thru-wall, remove one
and leave one on the threaded fitting.
4. Apply silicone to the threads of the brown thru-walls and the ribbed side of
the gaskets. The ribbed surfaces of the gaskets will go against the liner on
the inside, and against the wood on the outside of the hot tub.
5. Push the brown thru-wall through the hole in the stave and put the outside
gasket on.
6. Put on the white Jet body on the outside of the hot tub. While holding the
brown thru-wall on the inside of the tub, tighten the body firmly from the
outside.
Note: The thru-wall can be backed off (turned a partial turn backwards or
forwards) so that the outside Jet body ends up in the proper horizontal position
with the Air line at the top.
Download the PDF and go to page 28 to see the diagram and plumbing instructions
Important Information
• Each brown Jet thru-wall comes with two silicone washers:
– One washer goes on the inside of the hot tub,
with the ribbed surface against the liner.
– The other goes on the outside of the hot tub, with the
white Jet body, and the ribbed side faces the hot tub.
• Every hot tub is supplied with two (or four) end Jets: one for the
right and one for the left ends of the plumbing. These Jets have
plugs on one side.
• The centre Jets have no plugs in the holes.
• The white Jet body holds the Air and Water lines on the outside
of the hot tub. The Air line must be in the top position.
Instructions
1. When all final connections are complete, raise the water level above the top
row of Jets.
2. Make sure all valves are in the open position (handle in line with the hose).
3. Drain any air from the system by loosening the air vent screw on the filter lid.
Quickly tighten it again when the water starts to escape.
4. With the power on and the Jets on high, check all connections for leaks.
5. When everything is complete, use the rolls of foil insulation and tape to
wrap all the plumbing.
6. The roll-up cover has a “tail” which should be fastened to the surrounding
decking by three screws through one of the boards of the tail.
A manual has been included for the keypad controller and any other peripheral
equipment that has been provided. Please consult and familiarize yourself with
their operation.
Please contact Canadian Hot Tubs at 1-800-265-6355 if you have any
questions.
Important Information
• We recommend installing the keypad on a vertical surface to
protect it from rain, snow, and UV light.
• The Spa Pack must be connected to a 240V, 40A GFCI.
• A qualified electrician must connect the power to the Spa Pack.
• If your hot tub has been equipped with a 120V Spa Pack, it will
have a factory-connected GFCI cord that can be plugged directly
into a standard wall outlet.
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